Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-09
GEN. SHERIDAN AND GEN. ROSSER.
Another Card From the ex.Coneederate
Offtccr-What Gen. sheridan Says
About It.

ABOUT He
Gen. Rosser is reported in the Alexandra Ga
&effe as saying:
MS tsheridan's) burning OF supplies OF bread
anu forage found in the Valley might have been
Regarded as military necessity, to enable him,
Win force OF five federals to one confederate to
cope successfully with his adversary, but II such
nad Deen the case, could that end not have been
as successfully reached by removing those sup
pnes from the barns and mills, that they might
nave been destroyed without destroying the
oulidlngs! Was it military necessity to destroy
the dwellings which sheltered the defense
less and the feeble for the sake of the
destruction OF few bushels of grain or q
rev oundles OF straw or hay? 1t is true
tnaI am very sorry did not have something like
he a rofce Win which to have opposed him IN
OLD Army OF the United States would to-day be in
Detter nands than his. am glad that Gen. Sheri-
the valley for such an exhibition would be sick
enlng sight to the brave people who live there and
VINO nave proper estimate OF his character. With
now buried in the dim past. NV estimate OF Sher-
loans character Is not tempered by individual
splte. ana my letter was only written to warn my
1nhuman monster"
GEN. SHERIDAN HAS NO REPLY TO MAKE-THE Of
FlCIAL ORDER TELLS THE STORY.
STAR reporter to-day called Gen. Sheridan's
attention to this publication Heread it carefully,
and said that he had no reply to make to Gen.
Rossers statement. The official order, he said,
tells the whole story, and shows that he was act
ing under instructions Of Gen Grant.
lin destroying barn OF hay" he added, "we
naturally did not remove the hay to destroy it. but
burned barn and all It would have taken too
much time to do otherwise" The order referred
to Is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION,
CEDAR CREEK, VA, August 16, 1864.
"GenerdE In compliance with Instructions OF
the lieutenant General commanding, you Will
make the necessary arrangements and give the
necessary orders for the dest! ucton Of the wheat
and nay south OF line from Wildwood to Winches-
ter ana Petticoat Gap. You will seize all mules,
horses and cattle that may be useful to our Army.
the Government for this necessary destruction.
NO houses will be burned and officers in charge OF
tnls dencate, out necessary duty, must inform the
people that the object is to make this valley un:
tenable for the raiding parties OF the rebel
army. Very respectfully,
P. II. SHERIDAN,
Major-General commanding.
Brig. Gen. n. I. 4. IOrbert chief Of cavalry"
MISPLACED sEMI-CoLoN.
EGen. Sheridan states that the displacement OF a
Sem1-colon In the n Y. Tribune interview IRE
printed in Saturdays STAR makes him charge
Gen. Rosser with the performance Of acts of which
he was innocent. Gen. Sheridan was reported as
saving, ave stripped the enemy OF everything he
had captured; all his guns except one" &C, and
he thus corrects it: "Now, If you will move the
semi-colon after the word captured and place it
after the word had you will relieve Gen. Rosser
of the charge OF having captured guns from us at
any time when he was operating In the Valley-at
least when was around"
UNION VETERANS PASS RESOLUTIONS.
John A. Logan Post Union Veterans Union at
Bloomington, Ill, passed resolutions Saturday
night condemning and denying Gen. Rossers
charges against Gen. Sheridan Of heartless and
unnecessary destruction OF property during his
celebrated campaign in the Shenandoah valley.
They further declare that Gen Rosser Is abusing
the pardon1ng leniency OF the Government by as
perSing loyal soldiers.